Effect of an orally administered ß-lactamase (SYN-006) on the intestinal microbiota after antibiotic-mediated microbiota injury in the setting of allo-HCT

• Applicant: Dr. Annamaria Ballweg
• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 512112967

Research established in the last two decades has shown the community of microorganisms residing in the gut, termed the microbiota, plays a fundamental role in gut health and immune homeostasis. Studies from the van den Brink lab indicate the intestinal microbiota, which changes significantly during allogeneic stemcell-transplantation (allo-HCT), has an impact on graft-versus-host disease- (GVHD)-related mortality and relapse after allo-HCT. One important driver of dysbiosis in the setting of allo-HCT is exposure to broad-spectrum, anaerobe-targeting antibiotics. Despite these negative effects, antibiotic treatment is still fundamental to prevent infection after allo-HCT. Therefore, researchers have recently focused on strategies that preserve the beneficial systemic effects of antibiotics while inhibiting the intestinal microbiota disruption. The following project aims to investigate the effect of an orally administered ß-lactamase (SYN-006) on the intestinal microbiota after antibiotic-mediated microbiota injury in the setting of allo-HCT.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Hosts: Professor Dr. Marcel van den Brink, Ph.D.; Dr. Jonathan Peled, Ph.D.